Professional Documents
Culture Documents
An Assignment On
Trade Union Effect On Economic Performance – in Case of
Garment Industry in Bangladesh.
Submitted to Submitted by
Lutfunnahar Lutfa Onika Jahan Akondi
Lecturer ID:17122418
Department of Economics Session : 2016-2017
Department of Economics
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University
Trishal, Mymensingh-2220
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Introduction:
A trade union is an organization of worker who have come together to achieve
common goals such as protecting the integrity of its trade, improving safety
standards, achieving higher pay and benefits such as health care and retirement,
increasing the number of employees an employer assigns to complete the work,
and better working condition. Trade unions are the controller of the labor force of
an industry which works for the betterment of the country’s trade by ensuring the
right of the labor force. The most common purpose of these associations or
unions is "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. This may
include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules
governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and
policies. Unions may organize a particular section of skilled workers like craft
unionism a cross-section of workers from various trades or attempt to organize all
workers within a particular industry. Trade unions traditionally have a constitution
which details the governance of their bargaining unit and also have governance at
various levels of government depending on the industry that binds them legally to
their negotiations and functioning. Trade unions try to develop close working
relationships with employers. Globalization businesses are expanding rapidly for
that reason the workforce in the industries are increasing hugely Trade unions are
the only way to manage, compliant, and control the labor force. Lots of objectives
are there to organize trade unions. In perspective of Bangladesh the immediate
objectives and activities of trade unions include protection and promotion of the
interests of their members. Regulating the relations between workers and
employers or workers and workers or employers and employers is another
objective of trade unions. Trade Union has become a necessary part but trade
union can’t run properly due to various reasons. These are lack of consciousness,
lack of utility, lack of knowledge, political influence division of trade union. The
rate of unionization has increased in the RMG sector, trade union affiliation is low
in Bangladesh compared to many other developing countries. The main reasons
for this are the fall in employment in previously highly organized sectors, rise of
the service sector and increasing flexible types of employment relationships.
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3. To suggest some possible solutions for developing and improving the trade
union policy in Bangladesh.
Methodology:
Given the nature of the present study, it was required to collect data from the
secondary sources. The authors were always careful of the objectives of the study
and collected data accordingly to achieve those objectives. Secondary data were
collected from research studies, books, journals, newspapers and ongoing
academic working papers. The collected data may be processed and analyzed in
order to make the present study useful to the practitioners, researchers,
planners, policy makers and academicians of the concern area.
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A trade union (or a labor union in American English), often simply called a union,
is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve many common
goals, such as protecting the integrity of their trade, improving safety standards,
and attaining better wages, benefits (such as vacation, health care, and
retirement), and working conditions through the increased bargaining power
wielded by the creation of a monopoly of the workers. Trade unions typically fund
the formal organization, head office, and legal team functions of the trade union
through regular fees or union dues. The delegate staff of the trade union
representation in the workforce is made up of workplace volunteers who are
appointed by members in democratic elections.
The trade union, through an elected leadership and bargaining committee,
bargains with the employer on behalf of union members (rank and file members)
and negotiates labour contracts (collective bargaining) with employers. The most
common purpose of these associations or unions is "maintaining or improving the
conditions of their employment".[1] This may include the negotiation of wages,
work rules, occupational health and safety standards, complaint procedures, rules
governing status of employees including promotions, just cause conditions for
termination, and employment benefits.
Unions may organize a particular section of skilled workers (craft unionism),[2] a
cross-section of workers from various trades (general unionism), or attempt to
organize all workers within a particular industry (industrial unionism). The
agreements negotiated by a union are binding on the rank and file members and
the employer and in some cases on other non-member workers. Trade unions
traditionally have a constitution which details the governance of their bargaining
unit and also have governance at various levels of government depending on the
industry that binds them legally to their negotiations and functioning. Trade union
as per Trade Union Act 1926 “Any combination formed primarily for the purpose
of regulating the relations between workmen and employers or workmen and
work manor employers and employers or for imposing restrictive conditions on
the conduct of any trade or business and includes any federation of two or more
trade unions.”
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Riaz Garments from Riaz store in 1973, and from 1978 the company started
exporting products in the abroad by exporting 1 million pieces of shirts in the
South Korean Company named “Olanda”. “Desh Garments” is another pioneer of
the Bangladesh RMG sector. In 1979, Desh Garments started a joint project with
the South Korean company “Daiyuu”.
At the same time, several garments were introduced such as-Stylecraft limited by
Shamsur Rahman, Aristocraft Limited by AM Subid Ali, Azim Group by Engineer
Mohammad Fazlul Azim, and Sunman Group by Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan.
By following the beginners of the RMG sector, some other discreet and hard-
working entrepreneurs started their RMG business in the country. From there, the
RMG sector of Bangladesh was developing day by day and not needed to look
back. Though this sector had passed various critical stages through the path. In
that time, we learned about child labor in 1994, and in 1995 we made our
garments industry free from child labor very successfully.
Present Situation of RMG Sector in Bangladesh:
The quota system was a great blessing for establishing our garments industry. We
were strongly benefited from using that. As a result, we can see a matured
garments industry today. But while the quota system was approaching an end in
2004, there are so many who got upset about the RMG sector of Bangladesh.
Though in the latter it can’t be affected here as the experts seemed. We
conquered the post-quota challenges and made that a successful story.
In the RMG sector of Bangladesh, there are more than 5000 garment factories
(private statistics) at the current time, employing more than 12 lack laborers,
where 85% of the labor force is women. But, according to BGMEA the number of
garment factories in Bangladesh around 4000. Now, the RMG industry is the
countries largest export earner with a value of over $24.49bn of exports in the
last financial year. It’s great news for us that Bangladesh is clearly ahead of other
South Asian suppliers in terms of the capacity of the ready-made garments
industry.
Though, there are various types of garments are manufactured in Bangladesh, but
all the ready-made garments are classified into two broad categories, where one
is woven products and another one is knitted products. Woven products include
Shirts, Pants, and Trousers. On the other hand, the knitted product includes T-
Shirts, Polo Shirts, Undergarments, Socks, Stockings, and Sweaters. Woven
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garments still dominate the export earnings of the country. From the BGMEA
website, it’s seen that Day by day knitted items production is increasing at a
considerable rate and now about 40% export earnings have been achieved from
knitted products.
Employers were facing many difficulties towards labour union. Such problems
create negative effects.
Inequality and uncertainty created by migration and economic crisis which have
increased as a result of new liberal policies after 1980 strengthen fatalist, skeptic
and introvert individual perception and increase alienation of individuals to
society. Many reasons such as difficulty of social movement opportunities,
prolongation of lawsuits in judicial process, corruptions in public administration,
weakening of social policies have increased individuals’ lack of confidence in
collective organizations and each other.
But most of the employers were given their opinion positively about labour union.
Some of them badly needed this facility.
Many labour movement occur in many times for trade trade union.
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For many reason trade unions will be needed. For the workers of Bangladesh do
not have separate health care facilities like separate hospital or health insurance
for them. The proposed health policy for Bangladesh has recommended to have
separate health care system for workers in Bangladesh. For the workers of
Bangladesh do not have separate health care facilities like separate hospital or
health insurance for them. But some of workers think that if trade union exists
health care will be founded. Generally, it is believed that unions tend to raise the
wages of their members. However, some economists dispute the ability of unions
to raise the wages of workers above general market equilibrium levels.
sectors such as RMG, EPZs, shrimp exporting firms, finished leather and leather
goods is very weak. For instance, although there are more than 40 unions
representing garments workers, the level of unionization among workers is very
poor. Most trade unions in the RMG sector operate outside the factories and
therefore lack active participation of the general workers. A combination of
factors such as lack of enforcement of labor laws, inhibiting legal provisions, and
system of contract labor are responsible for reduced trade union membership in
these sectors. The workers belonging to government sectors, educational
institutions, health sector, private security services, confidential staffs, workers in
security printing press, ordinance factory, are still deprived from the right to
organize and do not have the freedom of collective bargaining. Trade unionism in
sectors such as nursing or rural electrification is banned. Government and private
owners also discourage trade unions in cement factories, re-rolling mills etc.
Furthermore, trade union leaders and members are frequently intimidated and
harassed by employers and security forces.
“Working conditions and workers’ rights issues are receiving high priority in
Bangladesh; The responses by the Government, the RMG industry, and workers’
organizations to recent tragedies in Bangladesh RMG sector are cause for
measured optimism,” With trade union it was seen that much benefits are
located. There are change in productivity ,growth ,profitability, wages,
unemployment.
In theory, trades unions can push wages above the equilibrium wage rate. This
rise in real wages can lead to less employment. However, the impact of unions on
employment rates is not certain. As seen above – it depends on the employer. If a
firm has monopsony power, then the monopsony can restrict labour and lower
wages. In this case, a trade union can provide a counter-balance to the
monopsony power of an employer. Even if labour markets are competitive –
demand may be quite inelastic, meaning higher wages would not cause much
decline in employment. Efficiency wage theory. This states higher wages can lead
to increased productivity. Productivity deals. A trade union may be able to
bargain for higher wages in return for improving working practices and
implementing higher productivity. Because labor unions traditionally seek to raise
the income of workers, they may increase the share of national income received
by labor and conversely reduce the share received by capital, and this change in
the factor distribution of income may help, at least in the short run, to equalize
personal incomes. But because not all workers are union members, unions may
also widen wage inequalities between union and nonunion workers. More
individuals might also decide to leave the labor force due to distortions in the
wage structure associated with unions.
•To control the deteriorating situation and protect the workers as guaranteed by
the Constitution, I suggest the following measures:
This way, the trade unions provides enthusiasm and encouragement to workers
which, in turn, results in increased productivity.
The question of wages has been, and still is, the main concern of trade unions.
Labour leaders always believe that trade unions, by improving the bargaining
power of labour, can raise wages. On the other hand, the classical economists
argued that wages could be raised only at the expense of profits, and a fall in
profits, by reducing industrial activity, would reduce demand for labour. Thus
either wages must be reduced or unemployment must be faced. Trade unions,
according to this view, cannot raise wages permanently. It is also pointed out that
wages are determined by marginal productivity and the unions can have no
influence in the matter. This however, is not the whole truth.
(i) They can ensure that labour is paid the full value of its marginal productivity.
Under perfect competition, no doubt, wages tend to equal the marginal
productivity of labour. But competition, in real world, is not perfect. Hence wages
do not come up to the marginal productivity level due to the weak bargaining
power of labour. By improving the bargaining power of labour, the trade unions
can raise wages up to the marginal productivity level.
(ii) Trade unions can improve the marginal productivity of labour itself in several
ways:
(a) They force the employer to use more up-to-date appliances and organisation,
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(b) They improve the efficiency of labour itself. This they do by fostering habits of
sobriety, thrift and honesty and by helping the younger generation to acquire
better education and training,
Industries with trade unions tend to have higher wages than non-unionised
industries. Trade unions can pursue collective bargaining giving workers a greater
influence in negotiating a fairer pay settlement.
The efficiency wage theory states that higher wages can also lead to increased
productivity. If workers feel they are getting a higher wage, they can feel more
loyalty towards the firm and seek to work for its success.
2.Counterbalance Monopsony
Power In many industries, firms have a degree of monopsony power. This means
firms have market power in employing workers. It enables firms to pay wages
below a competitive equilibrium (W2) and also employ fewer workers at Q2.
There are many cases of powerful firms making a very high level of profit, but
paying relatively low wages.
3. Represent workers
Trades Unions can also protect workers from exploitation, and help to uphold
health and safety legislation. Trades unions can give representation to workers
facing legal action or unfair dismissal.
4. Productivity deals
Trades unions can help to negotiate and implement new working practices which
help to increase productivity. For example, in wage negotiations, firms may agree
to increase pay, on the condition of implementing new practices, which lead to
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higher productivity. If the trade union is on board, then they can help create good
working relationships between the owners and workers.
Modern labour markets are increasingly flexible with weaker trade unions. These
new developments in labour markets have led to a rise in job insecurity, low-wage
growth and the rise of zero-hour contracts. Non-unionized labour helps firms be
more profitable, but wages as a share of GDP has declined since 2007. Unions
could help redress the monopoly power of modern multinationals.
If labour markets are competitive, and trade unions are successful in pushing for
higher wages, it can cause disequilibrium unemployment (real wage
unemployment of Q3-Q2). Union members can benefit from higher wages, but
outside the union, there will be higher unemployment.
It is also argued that if unions are very powerful and disruptive, it can discourage
firms from investing and creating employment in the jobs. If firms fear frequent
strikes and a non-cooperative union, they may prefer to invest in another country
with better labour relations. For example, in the 1970s, the UK experienced
widespread industrial unrest and this is cited as a factor behind the UK's relative
decline.
2. Ignore non-members
Trades unions only consider the needs of its members, they often ignore the
plight of those excluded from the labour markets, e.g. the unemployed.
3. Lost Productivity
If unions go on strike and work unproductively (work to rule) it can lead to lost
sales and output. Therefore their company may go out of business and be unable
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to employ workers at all. In many industries, trade unions have created a situation
of a confrontational approach.
Trade union always helps management to create better policies for workers and
to plan effective production targets.
Labors are treated fairly, only then they will maintain the working standard.
Trade unions negotiate for the standard wage and benefits with the management
Trade unions helps the management to make working environment more active
which increases the productivity as well as the profit.
Trade union is hugely helping the management to cope with the competition by
motivating workers to produce more and implementing management tactics.
Negative impacts:
Trade union leaders always try to save their interest first then the labor.
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In companies labors are awarded for good work and threatened for bad work.
But if it’s punished then t rad e union interfere and do not l et to
happen the punishment. So it increases crime of the labors.
2) Always show respect : However much you disagree with someone, attack the
argument, not the person.
3)Be Magnanimous :In truth, most conflict is over Matters of little substance and
often it is mostly pride or status that is at stake.
5) Apply Rationality: Much conflict is not about substance but perception. Try to
clear through the perception to discover and agree on how things really are.
11)Others:
i) Consider sequencing
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Limitations:
There are also some limitations were faced during the preparation of the report.
These are:
1. Limited access into factories
2. Difficulties to communicate with factory owners
3. Time constraint
4. Unwillingness of Company owner & other respondent to disclose their identities
Conclusion:
The most common purpose of these associations or unions is
"maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. The
trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on
behalf of union members (rank and file members) and negotiates labor
contracts (collective bargaining) with employers. In perspective of
Bangladesh the immediate objectives and activities of trade unions
include protection and promotion of the interests of their members.
Regulating the relations between workers and employers or workers
and workers or employers and employers is another objective of trade
unions. Trade Union has become a necessary part but trade union can’t
run properly due to various reasons. These are lack of consciousness,
lack of utility, lack of knowledge, political influence division of trade
union. The rate of unionization has increased in the RMG sector, trade
union affiliation is low in Bangladesh compared to many other
developing countries. The main reasons for this are the fall in
employment in previously highly organized sectors, rise of the service
sector and increasing flexible types of employment relationships .Data
available indicates fragmentation and contradiction in membership of
employers and workers organization
P a g e | 20
References:
1) Rahman, M., Mustafa, M., Islam, A. and Guru-Gharana, K.K.
2006.Growth and Employment Empirics in Bangladesh. Journal
of Developing Areas 40(1): 99-114
2) Trade unions - RMG Bangladesh (rmgbd.net)
3) Trade Unions: Objectives, Functions, Formation, Regulations,
Rights and Liabilities (businessmanagementideas.com)
4) Why unions are good for workers—especially in a crisis like
COVID-19: 12 policies that would boost worker rights, safety, and
wages | Economic Policy Institute (epi.org)
5) Assignment and Report Solution Point: Problems and Prospects of
Trade Union in Bangladesh
6) Trade unions - RMG Bangladesh (rmgbd.net)
7) Bangladesh: Garment Workers’ Union Rights Bleak, Bangladesh:
Garment Workers’ Union Rights Bleak | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
8) EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADE UNIONS IN PROMOTING EMPLOYEE RELATIONS IN ORGANISATIONS.
9) Advantages and Disadvantages of Trades Unions, Economics Essays:
Advantages and Disadvantages of Trades Unions (economicshelp.org)
10) No Trade Union – Workers’ Welfare Associations at EPZ, No
Trade Union – Workers’ Welfare Associations at EPZ | Inside Stories of Bangladesh
(bangladeshinside.com)
11) Current scenario of the textile industry in Bangladesh, Current scenario of
Bangladesh Textiles Industry | Scenario of Bangladesh Textiles - Fibre2Fashion
12) Sinha, P.R.N., Sinha, B.and Shekhar, P.S (2004), Industrial
Relations, Trade Unions, and Labour Legislation, Pearson
Education, p.156-557.
13) Rahman, M., Mustafa, M., Islam, A. and Guru-Gharana,
K.K. 2006.Growth and Employment Empirics in Bangladesh.
Journal of Developing Areas 40(1): 99-114.